It’s funny how your own team’s performance almost completely determines how you think that gameweek played out. I feel like this was a really good week in general, and Gameweek 7 was terrible. But the average score was right in the mid-40s in both cases.
The extent to which the average score actually matters really depends on your target, of course. If you want to finish in the top million at least, and preferably much higher, you don’t really want to be anywhere near that average – which, by definition, would see you finishing in the several-millions (depending on how many active players remain). Still, it’s at least a decent gauge of the extent to which you did well or badly in a given gameweek.
Anyway, enough babbling. On to the Gameweek 8 review – our final one before the international break which now stretches before us.
FPL Gameweek 8 Review
Right, let’s run through every matchup from FPL Gameweek 8.
Rather than going chronologically, I’ve sorted these extremely scientifically in order of how important the games were in actual, FPL terms. Which is all that matters, of course.
If you really want to read about Fulham vs Sheffield United, you’ll be scrolling for a while.
Arsenal 1 – 0 Man City
xG: 0.39 – 0.86
A really weird game. This is normally a pretty high-scoring game which City win. In this case, neither trait was true.
I do think the Arsenal defence is officially back, after a very sloppy start to the season. That’s now 5 cleans in the last 7 games, in all comps (and the 2 Lens goals were down to great finishing, more than poor defending). Most of those cleans have come against rubbish attacks, but shutting out City – even if they’re not vintage City – is no mean feat.
The problem, of course, is that Arsenal defenders are pretty expensive. Gabriel is the most budget-friendly way in, at only 4.7, but offers little attacking threat. Shelling out for White isn’t the worst idea. He’s 5.6, but at least gets forward, and we’re obviously not spending on the likes of Trent, Chilwell, or Estupinan any more. His underlying stats are pretty poor though, and he’s not really passing the eye test as an attacking asset.
As for Arsenal mids/attackers, this game doesn’t have any impact for me. Saka should be back after the internationals, Martinelli will presumably start on the left wing again, moving Jesus up top and Nketiah to the bench. You might as well hold Saka now, if you’ve kept him so far. I’d probably leave it at least one game with Martinelli, to see how he looks, before moving for him.
As for Man City, I wouldn’t really overreact here. Arsenal played pretty defensively, and defended very well. Haaland Out seems to be a trendy move right now, but I wouldn’t even consider it. He got 45 goal involvements last season, for God’s sake! Alvarez is also an easy hold.
Brighton 2 – 2 Liverpool
xG: 2.23 – 2.51
We all know Brighton’s defence is rubbish. I wouldn’t even consider any of their defenders, and I think they’re one of the best attacking matchups in FPL right now.
As for their mids/attackers, I never really liked Pedro or Ferguson, and I’m fine binning either. Mitoma is the only real question mark. He has City away next, which is a terrible fixture, but then has Fulham, Everton, Sheff Utd, and Notts Forest in a row. You probably have to hold, if you’ve got him.
Salah is must-own. I don’t care that he’s expensive. He’s easily the most reliable player in the game right now, and Liverpool have clearly turned a corner going forward.
Honestly, I wouldn’t really want anyone else from Liverpool. There’s too much inconsistency and uncertainty. I guess Darwin is decent value at 7.4, technically… but I’d rather have Alvarez for less money.
West Ham 2 – 2 Newcastle
xG: 0.93 – 1.98
West Ham just continue to get good results. They’re really not a good matchup in FPL right now, either defensively or offensively.
Bowen blanked here, but you’re obviously holding – he’s great. I’d certainly take a look at West Ham defenders right now too. Villa away isn’t great, but they then have Everton, Brentford, Forest, Burnley, and Palace, all of whom are pretty bad going forward. Coufal and Emerson are both nailed, cost 4.5, and have almost identical (mediocre) underlying stats. Flip a coin!
Trippier is another must-own right now. He’s easily worth the money. Isak is a trickier one. He returns when he starts, and is good value at 7.5… but Wilson is always looming in the background. I’d still be nervous. Finally, Gordon comes back after the break. He’s one of the best value players in the game, and 3 of his next 4 fixtures are pretty good.
Man U 2 – 1 Brentford
xG: 1.29 – 1.03
Man U are rubbish. They have Sheffield United next though, so you still can’t sell the likes of Bruno and Rashford. You certainly can for the City game after that, though.
Wissa finally ‘returned’ for Brentford, which sounded great… until you actually saw the return. It was a classic FPL ‘assist’, about which he knew basically nothing.
Brentford play Burnley next gameweek anyway, so you’re keeping any Bees you have.
Luton 0 – 1 Spurs
xG: 0.85 – 2.83
Luton aren’t actually the league’s whipping boys after all. After getting destroyed by Brighton and Chelsea, every one of their games has been decided by one goal (plus a draw against Wolves). They’re pretty tight at the back, and actually aren’t terrible going forward – they really, really should have scored at least one goal here.
Son is obviously Public Enemy #1 in FPL right now. He was the most-bought player heading into this gameweek, for apparently a dream fixture… and promptly blanked. He has Fulham next, so you’re keeping him for that… but Spurs attacking fixtures turn in a big way after that. They literally play 7 good defences in a row, so that’s your time to get rid.
Elsewhere for Spurs, Maddison continues to be great – his assist was incredible. They’re also solid defensively, and I’m still fine getting Porro or Udogie (preferably Porro) in – the attacks for those upcoming teams are pretty poor.
Wolves 1 – 1 Villa
xG: 1.76 – 1.82
All hail Pedro Neto. I wish I had him, and will be very tempted to bring him in ahead of Gameweek 9. He’s now returned in 5 games in a row, remains amazing value at 5.7, and is largely fixture-proof.
A disappointing game for Villa, but Wolves are a solid team. Watkins returned yet again, and has literally has one blank this season. You’re holding all their assets anyway – their fixtures are fine, and they’re one of the best teams in the league.
Burnley 1 – 4 Chelsea
xG: 0.96 – 1.98
Along with Sheffield United, Burnley are our top whipping boys right now. Target them mercilessly.
I don’t think this game means anything whatsoever for Chelsea. We already saw them smash Luton early on, and their attack went back to being rubbish straight after that.
Palace 0 – 0 Forest
xG: 0.98 – 1.22
Palace are very good defensively. They just take care of business, shutting out the teams they’re supposed to. They have Newcastle and Spurs back to back next, so we’re holding off for now, but their fixtures turn massively from Gameweek 11 onwards.
Forest are annoying in FPL – their games are just low-scoring and uneventful. Also their one potential asset, Awoniyi, is now injured.
Everton 3 – 0 Bournemouth
xG: 3.16 – 0.98
Exhibit A for a game we shouldn’t overreact to.
Bournemouth are rubbish. That’s fine. They’re another team we should exploit mercilessly.
Everton aren’t suddenly some solid defensive team, or a free-flowing attacking side. Their upcoming fixtures are also brutal – stay away, and bin Pickford if you can.
Fulham 3 – 1 Sheff Utd
xG: 2.27 – 0.25
Like the previous game, this one means nothing at all for Fulham.
It does, however, confirm what we already knew about Sheffield Utd – they’re rubbish. They, Burnley, and Bournemouth are the trio of terrible teams to target in FPL.
Final Thoughts
FPL might be on a two week hiatus. But here at Full 90 FPL, we have no need of respite.
We’ll still be writing and posting throughout the break, with at least a couple of pretty intriguing articles planned. Stay tuned, FPL friends, and check the ol’ Twitter and Reddit feeds to get those hot off the press.